How are your foster dogs treated in your household...? Do they have the same rules and privileges as your own dogs...or do you set different rules up for them?

My own fosters have much more structure in life than my own dogs. For example: my foster dogs are not allowed on the furniture (bed, couch, etc); they stay in crates when I'm not around or can't supervise them; they are fed downstairs in their crates (not in the general population)...unless I'm specifically testing out how they are with food guarding around other dogs); and are treated more like second class citizens around here (not in a bad way).

They DO get to be out and about in the yard for playtimes, they are allowed out in the house to play with toys and chewies...both under supervision. They go to flyball tournaments with us, they go to training classes with me, they go with me to play with other dogs when I'm doing dog-walking...they learn their basic stuff: sit, walking nicely on a loose leash, basic manners.

I don't allow them to develop potentially bad habits, and we work hard on getting rid of bad habits...but this to me means structure and rules...not spoiling them and allowing them privileges that they haven't earned. When they go to their new home, the OWNERS can decide if they want them in the bed, or on the couch, or whatnot...

I bring this up, because I've seen a lot of foster dog pics on FB on friend's pages that show foster dogs just lounging around in their foster mom's beds, or doing something I find obnoxious. Just because they're in rescue, imho, doesn't mean they can just get spoiled and not learn anything.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

I agree with you. My foster dogs have more structure until I know they won't kill my cats, etc. They typically get a bit more crate time and aren't allowed on my furniture and such. If they are a total 'insta dog' they will get more priviledges than some fosters after their two week crate shut down.

My fosters tend to be able to go out and about with me more for socialization purposes. And I also want to see how they do in different and interesting situations. Plus, because they are spending more time in crates I tend to take them to work with me more often. With people and dogs coming and going all day long I feel like it's good for them.

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

if I ever had a foster I suspect I'd do it that way, with more rules and structure...

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
_______________________________________
"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07

The couple times I've fostered my fosters have had more structure and less privileges. Like Erin, I'd rather not let the dog get used to being on the furniture or bed if the new owner isn't going to want that.

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

I really think that Erin *cough-posted-this-especially-for-me-cough*, so that Bee doesn't arrive at her house wanting to hog the bed and demanding the remote...

But, anyway... so far, so good. She's crated in the house, and I ignored the hour-long wailing she did last night because she wanted to come out.She's also on a cable tie-out in the yard, with a chewie, during part of playtime, so my other two (or three) can interact with each other, w/out her constantly trying to bite them, trip them, and hang off their heads.